Suspension means



y 1947. J. l. ROBIN SUSPENSION MEANS Filed May 18, 1945 INVENTQR Jot-05 IP05) Ab ATTORNEY Patented May 6, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

The invention relates to suspension means for wearing apparel, curtains, portieres, towels, and a multitude of other articles of domestic use, and, more particularly, to devices of this character wherein the suspended article is held in place by snubbing action between two or more parallel bars.

In a copending application, Ser. No. 533,364, I have disclosed a device of this nature wherein the bottom bar is fixed and the upper bar or bars are movable relatively to the lower bar, being guided in this movement by cords or wires connecting the lower bar to a coat hanger. The upper bar or bars in that device are not removable. In the present invention, they are removable, this feature afiording a number of advantages, such as the ability of wrapping the article to be suspended around a removable upper bar and then placing the bar with the wrapped article into its place above the lower bar. This arrangement greatly facilitates the proper suspension of articles which it is difiicult to introduce between adjoining bars. When several articles are to be suspended in the device, it is provided with two, three or more movable and removable bars one above the other. The removability of the bars is especially advantageous in such a case, both for the operation of suspension, and for the removal of the garments or other articles, as one of these articles may be removed without disturbing the other suspended articles. When the device includes a coat hanger, trousers or skirts suspended between the bars may be removed without the necessity of first removing the coat. Or, if a collection of towels or neckties is suspended between the bars, it is possible to remove a selected article without dislocating the other suspended articles in any way. The device is also adapted to operate as a display rack or as a drying rack, and for many other functions which it is unnecessary to enumerate and which endow the invention with a great variety of useful applications tending to simplify ones work. It may be added that the simplicity of the device also contributes to the low cost of its manufacture and its availability to a great mass of people at a very low cost.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the present invention and incorporating a coat hanger. Figure 2 is a cross section along the line 2-2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of the device shown in part only. Figure 4 is a cross section along the line 44 of Figure 3. Figure 5 is another modification of the device, also shown Z in part only. Figure 6 is a sectional view of still another modification of the device, shown in part only. In Figures 5 and 6, the coat hanger is omitted.

Referring to the Figures 1 and 2 in detail, I is a coat hanger provided with a two prong suspension hook made up of a wire 2 bent over the coat hanger and held tight on it by a movable ring 3. From the coat hanger I, near its ends, hang two brackets 4 and 4' by means of loops 5 passing through holes 6 in the coat hanger. The brackets 4 and 4' are made up of a wire bent into two prongs, one, I, ending in the loop 5, and the other, 8, passing through holes II and [2 in the bars 9 and I0. These bars ar parallel to one another, the lower one, 9, being kept in place on the bend of the two prongs I and 8. A garment i3 is shown as suspended between the bars 9 and [0, being wrapped around the upper bar I!) and held in place by the snubbing action between the two bars.

In Figure 3 is shown a modification of the device, wherein the prongs 1 and 8 are arranged to hold the parallel bars between them without having the prong 8 pass through holes in the bars. In this illustration, three bars are shown instead of the two bars of Figure 1. It is to be understood, however, that in the device shown in Figure 1, also, three or more bars may be used, this remark applying to every one of the illustrations here shown. The three bars l4, I5 and I6 in Figure 3 have grooves ll, the reduced diameter of the bars fitting in between the prongs l and 8. As shown in Figure 3, all of the bars are removable, but if it is desired to hold the lowest one in place, any convenient method may be used.

The operation of the device is self evident and it seems entirely superfluous to discuss it except to point out some of its advantages over similar devices of the day. As already stated in the preamble, the main advantage resides in the removability of the bars lying above the stationary lowest bar. How much this feature facilitates the operation of the device must be obvious to anyone who has tried to remove one suspended article from among several held between the bars. It is also important to note that the combination of the bars with a coat hanger is only one of its many uses. The brackets holding the bars may be attached directly to a wall or other support, as is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. This form of the device is particularly applicable to the use as a towel rack, a drying rack, or as a display rack. When various articles are suspended from a succession of superimposed bars, it is easy to remove those on top without dislocating or otherwise disturbing those below. All one has to do is to remove the top bar together with its suspended article. The hooks l8 are provided as an additional means for the suspension of garment provided with straps, such as many kinds of womens wear. Sometimes, it may be desired to divide the bars in the middle, so as to suspend two halves of an article, one on each portion of the bar, as,.for instance; when hanging up a set of portieres. This modification is not illustrated as it is an obvious change. When the bar is so divided,- each portion can turn on the corresponding prong as an axis and it may be unnecessary to remove the bar. Of course, after the article is suspended; the divided bar is made wholeagain by any suitable means. Various decorative features may be added to the device.

The illustrations here shown are believed to amplyclarify theessential-features of thedevice without a detailed enumeration of the many changes of which the invention is: susceptible, within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. A pair oftwo-pronged brackets, one prong of eachbracket having an open end, means for securing the other prongs: of each one of said brackets at a predetermined distance from one another, and a-multiplicity of bars arranged one above the other for' parallel movement in said brackets: and guided by said prongs and entirely removable therefrom, due to said open ends.

21A suspension device, including a garment hanger, a pair of. two-pronged: brackets, one prong of each'br'acket having an open end means for securing the other prongs of each one of said brackets to said hanger proximate its-ends, and a multiplicity of bars arranged one above the'other for'pa-rallel movement in said brackets and guided by said prongs and entirely removable therefrom, due to'said open ends.

3. A suspension device, including a coat hanger provided with holes-near its ends, a pair of brackets suspended from said coat hanger through saidholes, each one of said brackets being formed by bending a length of wire into two prongs and an are between them, the open end. of one of said prongs forming a loop passing through one of said holesinthe coat hanger, a multiplicity of parallel bars arranged one above the other between said rongs and provided with holes proximate their ends, the other one of said prongs passing through said holes in the bars, the bottom bar resting on said arc, and the upper bars being movable along said second prong and entirely removable therefrom.

4. A suspension device, including a coat hanger provided with holes near its ends, a pair of brackets suspended from said coat hanger through said holes, each one of said brackets being formed by bending a length of wire into two prongs and an arc between them, the open end of one of said prongs forminga loop passing through one of said holes in the coat hanger, a multiplicity of parallel bars arranged one above the other hetween-said prongs, said bars being provided with grooves proximate their ends, said prongs fitting intosaid' grooves, the bottom bar resting on said arc, and the upper bars being movable, in said grooves between the prongs and entirely removable tlierefrom.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein additionalsuspension means is provided. by formin one of. theprongs intota hook.

6..A pair of two-prongopen. end brackets, at a predetermined distance. from. one. another, and a multiplicity of. bars arrangedrone above the other for parallel movementinsaid brackets andguided by said'prongs and entirely removable therefrom. due to said openends;

7.. A suspension 'device, including a. garment hanger, a pair of two-prong. open end. brackets, means for securing said; brackets to said'hanger proximate its ends, and a multiplicity of bars arranged one above the other for parallel movement in said'bracket's andguided by said prongs and entirely removable therefrom, due to said open ends.

JACOB I. ROBIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of 'record in the file of this patent:

STATES PATENTS- Number Name Date 2,222,232 McOsker Nov. 19, 1940 1,608,327 Hamilton Nov. 14, 1911 1,364,519 Porter Jan. 4, 1921 2,347,949 Hoffman May 2, 1-944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 52,867 Swiss Aug. 3, 1910 

